Apricots & Blood Sugar

Apricots' sweet and delicate flavor, as well as their impressive nutrient content, makes them a worthwhile addition to your diet. They come loaded with beneficial vitamin A, and also provide considerable amounts of vitamin C, potassium, copper and manganese. In addition, apricots can help satisfy your sweet tooth without wreaking havoc on your blood sugar levels, unlike sweets that contain sugar and processed carbohydrates. Apricots' low glycemic index and nutrient content help them regulate your blood sugar levels.

Glycemic Index

With a glycemic index, or GI, of 34, fresh apricots count as a low glycemic index food. Dried apricots have an even lower GI of 30. This means that both fresh and dried apricots have a sustained effect on your blood sugar after a meal, compared to foods with a high glycemic index, which cause blood sugar spikes after eating. Consuming foods with a low glycemic index proves important to your health if you have trouble regulating your blood sugar, making fresh or dried apricots an excellent addition to a diabetic diet.

Effect of Fiber

Fiber accounts for some of apricots' beneficial effect on blood sugar. Dietary fiber slows digestion to control the release of sugar into your bloodstream, and it improves your body's ability to respond to insulin, which helps further control blood sugar. A cup of sliced fresh apricot contains 3.3 grams of dietary fiber, while a half-cup of dried apricots boasts 4.7 grams. Each serving of dried apricots provides 18 percent of the daily fiber requirements for women and 12 percent for men, established by the Institute of Medicine.

Vitamin E

The vitamin E found in fresh and dried apricots also contributes to their effect on blood sugar for some individuals. Vitamin E functions as an antioxidant, and a diet rich in antioxidants helps improve blood sugar levels for people suffering from Type 2 diabetes, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. Consuming a half-cup of dried apricots boosts your vitamin E intake by 2.8 milligrams and provides 19 percent of the daily intake recommended by the Institute of Medicine. A cup of fresh sliced apricots contains 1.5 milligrams of vitamin E, or 10 percent of the recommended daily intake.

Consuming More Apricots

Dried apricots make for a filling snack consumed on their own and work well with nuts and seeds for homemade trail mix, while chopped dried apricots make a welcome additions to salads. Try combining quinoa, chopped dried apricots, green onion, fresh mint and an orange juice vinaigrette for a high-fiber salad that helps regulate your blood sugar. Consume fresh apricots on their own, or use thinly sliced apricots and all-natural almond butter to top whole-grain toast for a healthful breakfast.

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About the Author

Sylvie Tremblay holds a Master of Science in molecular and cellular biology and has years of experience as a cancer researcher and neuroscientist. Based in Ontario, Canada, Tremblay is an experienced copywriter, journalist and blogger specializing in nutrition, fitness, lifestyle, health and biotechnology, as well as real estate, agriculture and clean tech.

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